Top 10 Hotels in India

Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai

Best Dining

This 565-room hotel weaves Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles together: It features vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, archways, silk carpets, crystal chandeliers and a cantilever stairway. This diversity is also reflected in the hotel's dining venues, which happen to be Mumbai's hottest: the Middle Eastern Souk, Morimoto's Wasabi and the Zodiac Grill, where the menu changes each month to match the astrological sign.

The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore

Best Business Hotel

Bangalore, India's third-largest city, has morphed into a hip, global technology center, attracting CEOs from Google, Yahoo!, IBM, Honeywell, and, of course, Bill Gates. The Leela Palace offers great accommodations and dining (at the lovely Jamavar) plus superior conference facilities. Expect to rub elbows with local resident Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon president and India's richest woman.

Devi Garh, Delwara Near Udaipur

Sexiest Design

From the outside, Devi Garh, an 18th-century Rajput palace-fort, looks just like so many of the majestic edifices throughout Rajasthan. But step inside and you'll find a totally reinvented minimalist décor. In one room, a sunken marble tub sits alone in a room looking at the Aravali Hills through floor-to-ceiling glass. Each of the 39 suites is embellished with marble and semi-precious stones. The hotel has a spa and can arrange camel rides.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

Best Place For Romance

It's hard to top the setting of this white marble palace which seems to be floating atop Lake Pichola on its four-acre island pedestal. Adding to the storybook effect are the decorative details in the elegant suites: bohemian crystals, ornate glass work, green lotus leaves and cusped arches. The rooms look out on medieval gardens and hilltop fortresses.

The Four Seasons, Mumbai

Best Car Service

Driving conditions in India can be a little daunting. At the Four Seasons, the newest entrant to the country's luxury-hotel market, a fleet of 20 BMW Series 7s is available for guests--not that they'll need to go far: The glass tower hotel (whose 202 rooms look straight at the Arabian sea) is conveniently located in Worli, the city's financial center, obviously targeted to the increasing number of business travelers flocking to Mumbai.

Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

Best Views Of The Taj Mahal

Views of the domed marble mausoleum are clear from practically every window of this property (including some bathrooms!). This hotel features Moghul architecture, terraced gardens and several reflection pools. The 103 rooms are decked out in rich purples, oranges and yellows.. Their marble bathrooms are stately with their imposing soaking tubs.

Best Desert Retreat

Amanresorts Amanbagh, Alwar

This ultra-deluxe resort sits on the former site of the Maharajah of Alwar's hunting lodge and personal pleasure garden. Amanbagh means "peaceful garden" and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more tranquil spot than this soft-sandstone hotel surrounded by graceful palms, fragrant eucalyptus and frangipani trees and manicured jade green lawns.. The elegant "haveli-style" rooms are among the largest in the country.

Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur

Best Tent Accommodations

Built in 1727, majestic Jaipur is also known as "The Pink City" for its oleander-rose buildings, domes and minarets. This smaller luxury hotel about five miles from the city center reflects Jaipur's colors and stateliness. It offers a variety of courtyard accommodations, from suites to air-conditioned luxury tents with teak floors, Edwardian claw-foot tubs and embroidered interior canopies. Flashlight not required

The Imperial, New Delhi

Best Common Spaces

Built in 1936, the landmark Imperial Hotel, with its parade of palm trees, glossy Italian marble floors, teak furnishings and high ceilings, will make you feel like you should have arrived on elephant, sword on hip. But don't worry; the spacious rooms--the Deco suites are particularly stunning--have all the modern conveniences. Ask the resident curator to guide you through the hotel's hanging collection of British art.

10 Largest Diamonds in the World

10. The Millennium Star

Weight: 203.04 carats

The Millennium Star is internally and externally flawless pear-shaped diamond (total of 54 facets). With the weight of 203.04 carats it is the 10th largest diamond in the world. Originally, the rough stone was 777 carats found in the Mbuji-Mayi district of Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1990. After 5 months of studying and planning the cutting of the stone, it was decided to cut the rough diamond into three pieces. The Millennium Star is the outcome of the largest piece. The value of the stone hasn't been revealed but the Millennium Star was insured for 100 million English pounds, this is believed to be a fraction of its true worth.

9. The Red Cross
Weight: 205.07 carats

The Red Cross is canary yellow cushion-shaped diamond with weight of 205.07 carats. The rough stone weighed 375 carats and was found in Kimberly mines (South Africa) in 1901. The diamond was presented as a gift to the art sale held in London by Christies in 1918, on behalf of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John. Another rare feature is that a Maltese Cross is distinctly visible in the top facet, hence the double appropriateness of its name, the Red Cross Diamond.

8. The De Beers
Weight: 234.65 carats

The De Beers diamond was found in Kimberly mines in 1888, the rough stone weighed 428.50 carats and measured 47.6 mm through its longest axis and 38.1 mm square. Weighing 234.65 carats, the De Beers is the 8th largest faceted diamond in the world. After its display in Paris the Maharaja of Patiala bought the De Beers. In 1928 Cartier of Paris set it as the centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace that came to be known as the Patiala Necklace. The necklace originally contained about 2,930 diamonds weighing about 962.25 carats. Today's whereabouts of the De Beers diamond and the Patiala Nacklace is unknown.


7. The Jubilee
Weight: 245.35 carats

The Jubilee is a colorless cushion-shaped diamond with a weight of 245.35 carats. The original rough stone, an irregular octahedron without definite faces or shape weighed 650.80 carats and was found in the Jagersfontein Mine towards the end of 1895. When during the cutting it became evident that a superb diamond of exceptional purity and size was being produced, it was planned to present it to Queen Victoria. In the end this did not happen and the diamond remained with its owners. The following year marked the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria (the 75th anniversary of her coronation) so the gem was renamed the Jubilee to commemorate the occasion.

6. The Centenary
Weight: 273.85 carats

The Centenary was found in Premier mine in 1986, in its rough form it weighed 599 carats. When cutting was completed the Centenary weighed 273.85 carats, measured 39.90 × 50.50 × 24.55 mm, and had 247 facets - 164 on the stone and 83 around its girdle. Never before had such a high number of facets been polished onto a diamond. The true value of the Centenary diamond is unknown, but the diamond was insured for around $100 million in 1991.

5. The Spirit of de Grisogono
Weight: 312.24

The Spirit of de Grisogono, at 312.24 carats, is the world's largest cut black diamond, and world's 5th largest diamond. In a white gold mounting, it is set with 702 white diamonds totaling 36.69 carats. This diamond originally had a rough weight of 587 carats and was mined several decades ago in west Central Africa before being imported into Switzerland.

4. The Cullinan II
Weight: 317.40 carats

The Cullinan II is the massive 317.40 carat cushion shaped diamond in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. Cullinan II was cut from the largest gem-quality diamond ever found, it weighed 3106 carats, or about 1 1/3 pounds. It was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who opened the mine and was visiting on that eventful day. The nine larger stones of the Cullinan diamond remain either in the British Crown Jewels or in the personal possession of the Royal Family.

3. The Incomparable
Weight: 407.48 carats

The Incomparable, in its rough state weighing 890 carats, was found in the town of Mbuji Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in the 1980s. Four years were spent studying and then cutting the stone, the biggest piece of rough ultimately yielded a gem weighing 407.48 carats; it is the third largest diamond ever cut. Internally flawless clarity and fancy brownish-yellow in color, it measures 53.90 × 35.19 × 28.18 mm.

2. The Cullinan I - aka the Star of Africa
Weight: 530.20 carats

The Cullinan I, a pear shaped diamond weighing 530.20 carats is also known as the Star of Africa. It measures 53mm x 44mm x 29mm, and has 76 facets. It's called the Cullinan I because it is the largest of 9 large stones cut from the 3106 carat Cullinan Diamond. Cullinan I was placed by King Edward in the Sovereign's Royal Sceptre as part of the Crown Jewels, and it is now on display in the tower of London. Estimated value of Cullinan I is over $400 million!

1. The Golden Jubilee
Weight: 545.67 carats

The Golden Jubilee, with the weight of 545.67 carats, is the largest faceted diamond in the world. Rough stone weighed 755 carats and was discovered in Premier mine, South Africa in 1985. The Golden Jubilee was presented to the King of Thailand in 1997 for his Golden Jubilee - the 50th anniversary of his coronation. Prior to this event, the stone was simply known as the Unnamed Brown. Estimated value of the Golden Jubilee is $4-$12 million.

10 Best Bodybuilders In The World

10. Franco Columbu

He was born on August 17, 1941 and is an Italian actor apart from being a marvelous bodybuilder. His height is 5 feet 5 inches and according to some sources it is reported to be 5 feet 3 inches, but his miniature structure was not a hindering factor for Franco at all. He won the title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981. He also competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition but was not able to win the title, rather he ended up in a dislocated leg. Columbu received $1 million as a compensation for that. He was light in the legs but has tremendous back and delts.

9. Flex Wheeler

His original name is Kenneth Wheeler but is commonly known as Flex Wheeler. He was born on August 23, 1965 in California, United States. He started his career as a police officer but then left this job and determined to become a professional bodybuilder. He won the first award at the NPC Mr. California Championships in 1989. He was a Iron Pro winner for 5 times, enjoyed tremendous victories in France Grand Prix and he is also the 4-time Arnold Classic winner. Wheeler had a great back and 17 inch arms. His height was almost 5 feet 8 inches.

8. John Grimek

He was born on June 17, 1910 in New Jersey. He cemented his place in various bodybuilding articles and magazines and was the symbol of outstanding bodybuilding in his times. He represented United States in weightlifting at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Grimek was also very magnificent gymnast and his win in a Mr. Universe contest in London is conspicuous of this fact. He died on November, 1998 at the age of 88.

7. Steve Reeves

He was born on January 21, 1926 in Montana, USA. He was great bodybuilder as well as a good actor. He was the highest paid actor in Europe during the peak of his career. He had a phenomenal physique and set the standard of a ideal figure for the years to come. He had a narrow waist, wide shoulders and a narrow hip. His height was 6 feet 1 inch and was incredibly handsome and good-looking. His short history of bodybuilding awards is; 1946 – Mr. Pacific Coast, 1947 – Mr. Western America and 1948 – Mr. World. He died from complications of lymphoma.

6. Reg Park

He was born on June 7, 1928 in West Yorkshire, England. He was a multi-dimensional person was a businessman, actor and a bodybuilder at the same time. Although at the start, he was more into playing football than lifting weights but at the age of 16, after meeting a famous muscleman David Cohen, he got himself into bodybuilding. His height was 6 feet 1 inch and had a behemoth arm of 20 inches. He had an attractive figure and starred in many films also. He died on November, 2007 with metastatic melanoma, a form of skin cancer. He achieved many awards some of which are Mr. Britain 4th (1946), Mr. Universe –NABBA- overall winner (1951), Mr. Universe – NABBA- overall winner (1965).

5. Bill Pearl

He was born on October 31, 1930 and was a stunning American bodybuilder during 1950’s and 1960’s. Apart from achieving phenomenal success in the field of bodybuilding, he was also the first professional bodybuilder to author bodybuilding training courses. Overall, he had a real huge size but where he lagged behind was his ineptitude to cut his thighs. Some of his bodybuilding career achievements are 1956 N.A.B.B.A., Mr. Universe, Professional, Tall Man’s Class (London, England), 1952 Mr. San Diego, 3rd place (San Diego, California), 1952 Mr. Oceanside (Oceanside, California) and 2006 PDI Night of Champions Lifetime Achievement Award.

4. Ronnie Coleman

Ronnie Coleman, nicknamed Big Ron, was born on May 13, 1964 at Louisiana. He is an American national and has had the honor of winning 8 straight wins as Mr. Olympia. He has a B.S in accounting degree to his credit and after graduation served as a police officer. He joined a gymnasium called Metroflex and after training won first place in Mr.Texas competition. He has a gigantic arm and a perfect back muscle. He has a behemoth structure and more than 270 pounds. He won many titles as 1990 Mr. Texas (Heavyweight & Overall), 1996 Canada Pro Cup, 2000 Grand Prix England, 2001 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and 2005 Mr. Olympia etc.

3. Dorian Yates

He was born on April 19, 1962 in Staffordshire, England. He won 6 Mr. Olympia titles consecutively in a row and is known for his thickness. His height is 5 feet 10 inches and has got a huge arm of 20 inches. Currently, Yates is the CEO of his own global supplement company called DY nutrition. His career titles are 1985 World Games, 7th (amateur), 1992 Mr. Olympia, 1st, 1995 Mr. Olympia, 1st, 1996 English Grand Prix, 1st and 1994 Spanish Grand Prix, 1st etc.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger

He was born on July 30, 1947 and is an Austrian-American professional bodybuilder. Along with being a bodybuilder he is also a fabulous actor, politician and businessman. He has written myriad articles on bodybuilding. Arnold was the 38th governor of California and was succeeded by Jerry Brown. He belonged to the Republican political party. He has won the Mr. Olympia award 7 times whereas he won the first one at the age of 20. He started his training at the age of 15. He remained a under the spotlight in the career of bodybuilding for a much longer duration.

1. Sergio Oliva

He was born on July 4, 1941 in Cuba. The nickname of Oliva is “The Myth” and if you want to know why then see him at the 1967 Montreal World’s Fair. A sun worshipper coaxed him into this field of bodybuilding and he is the only bodybuilder to ever defeat Arnold in a Mr. Olympia contest, 1969. He is the second bodybuilder to win Mr. Olympia contest. Peeping a little into his personal life, he got shot by his then-wife Arleen Garrett and sustained 5 bullet wounds but The Myth survived that because he is a myth. His height is 5 feet 9 inches and has got a 20 inch arm. Although some of you might consider Arnold to be at the top spot but I will back my ranking by the statement of Joe Weider as he said to Oliva that when he was in his best shape, no one could stand parallel to him. The numerous title won by Oliva are 1965 Junior Mr. America – AAU, Most Muscular, 1966 Mr. World – IFBB, Overall Winner, 1966 Mr Universe – IFBB Winnera and 1985 Olympia – IFBB, 8th etc.